Journal of Psychiatry and Psychological Sciences

ABSTRACT

This quantitative study investigates the effects of exposure to the Palestinian Genocide and level of religiosity’s, impact on Empathy and Learned Helplessness among Gen Z. Utilizing a survey research design, data had been collected through self-report measures from approximately 454 individuals aged 18 to 27 years, acquired via purposive convenience sampling. The study hypothesizes that exposure to the Palestinian Genocide and level of religiosity has significantly impacted the levels of learned helplessness and empathy. Participants had completed the Perth Empathy Scale, the Centrality of Religiosity Scale, and the Learned Helplessness Scale. With the use of SPSS, the Scales reliability was determined, and the calculated Cronbach alpha values were 0.77 and 0.85 respectively. Pearson’s Correlation coefficient was employed to examine the main effects of exposure to the Palestinian Genocide and Religiosity on Learned Helplessness and Empathy among Gen Z. The findings showed a significant relationship between religiosity and empathy, as well as a negative correlation between religiosity and Learned Helplessness. Exposure to the Palestinian genocide had a weaker correlation with the outcome variables. This research aims to provide valuable insights into the psychological impacts of traumatic events on younger generations, highlighting the potential buffering effects of religiosity and informing targeted interventions to mitigate adverse psychological outcomes.

Keywords: Palestinian Genocide; Generation Z (Gen Z); Empathy; Learned; Helplessness; Religiosity; Social Media Exposure; Psychological Impact; Trauma Exposure; Mental Health; Digital Activism